2026-06-09T21:41:08+00:00
Shafaq News- Washington
The United States has launched what it described as self-defense
strikes against Iran in response to the downing of a US Army Apache helicopter
a day earlier, US Central Command (CENTCOM) stated on Tuesday.
CENTCOM said its forces began the operation under the
direction of the US Commander-in-Chief, characterizing the action as a
proportional response to what it called “unjustified Iranian aggression.”
Iranian news agency Tasnim reported that areas in
Sirik, Qeshm Island, and Minab were targeted in attacks carried out by US
fighter jets.
U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) forces began launching self-defense strikes against Iran at 5 p.m. ET today at the Commander in Chief’s direction, in response to yesterday’s downing of a U.S. Army Apache helicopter. The mission is a proportional response to unjustified Iranian…
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) June 9, 2026
Earlier, US President Donald Trump said the crash involving
a US Apache helicopter was not a “major incident” and that the pilot was safe,
while affirming that sanctions and restrictions targeting Iranian ports would
remain in place for as long as necessary.
Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi denied
Iranian involvement in the incident over the Strait of Hormuz, stating that
“Iran was not behind the attack” and that there had been no deliberate action
targeting the aircraft.
The downing of the helicopter marks the first reported loss
of a US Apache since the April 8 ceasefire between Washington and Tehran.
However, the Gulf region has witnessed repeated flare-ups in recent weeks,
including strikes involving Iranian islands and military sites
in the Gulf.
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